found something rather baffling when researching my column this week… I wanted to see if there was any evidence that AI tools were helping economists to make their research more readable. So I analysed the text of NBER working paper abstracts…

Column is here - first 300 clicks free to read as.ft.com/r/6bffcdf4-5...

This afternoon at UW's 2026 MisinfoDay event, I'm excited to be addressing a wonderful group of K-12 educators about the challenges of teaching AI literacy and the approach that Jevin West, Linsey Kitchens, Liz Crouse, and I have developed to that meet that challenge.

Please please accept or decline requests to review papers immediately upon seeing the request. It's simple. Most people don't have a good reason for being slow (though I realize a few might). It's crazy how many people are slow. They slow down the whole process for no good reason.

My question: How could the US sustain 10% tariffs on imports from the UK? USTR's answer, last night: By complaining about its forced labour practices. Specifically, for failing to shut out imports made with forced labour. ustr.gov/about/policy...

Issuance of F-1 student visas by the United States, to all countries, monthly through August 2025 (latest available). The red line shows the start of the current US Administration. Shutting out the world's talented young people will impoverish the future of every Conservative and Liberal American.

🔵 Democrats flip another seat in the New Hampshire State House. Democrat Bobbi Boudman wins a special election in a Trump+9 district, after losing the same seat by 14 points in 2024. A 13-point Democratic overperformance.

A win for academic freedom. Being a professor is a tough job because we have a lot of competing pressures, but remember that we have an obligation to govern ourselves. www.thecrimson.com/article/2026...

I was in a 2 hour briefing today on the Iran War. All the briefings are closed, because Trump can't defend this war in public. I obviously can't disclose classified info, but you deserve to know how incoherent and incomplete these war plans are. 1/ Here's what I can share:

Seems troubling. More troubling would be the idea that the Administration might have bombed Iran without expecting this.

I was lead amicus on this brief, signed by 13 other expert economists, estimating the economic benefits to the United States of continuing to honor TPS for Haitians —> www.aclunorcal.org/sites/defaul...

Are you a PhD student/postdoc/early-career scholar studying immigration? Want to spend time this summer in Mexico City w other immigration scholars? Apply to the UC Davis Global Migration Center summer school! I'll be there w 3 other amazing economists! globalmigration.ucdavis.edu/summer_school3

Every senator who voted to confirm RFK Jr owns this tragedy. Every single one.

Open this photo up and look for the small, white dot just left of centre. It looks like Venus, shining brightly in the twilight sky. But it's us. It's Earth. From Mars.

A popular app in Denmark identifies American products so that Danes know not to buy them www.independent.co.uk/tech/us-boyc...

Congrats to BART rider and Oakland legend Alysa Liu on winning a gold medal at the Olympics and making the Bay Area proud!

Hassett on new study from NY Fed showing 90% of tariff burden is being shouldered by US firms & consumers: "The paper is an embarrassment. It's I think the worst paper I've ever seen in the history of the Fed system. The people associated with this paper should presumably be disciplined."

Gee this can’t have anything to do with married women needing passports to vote under the SAVE act could it?

Congress should act to categorically exempt statistical agency staff from this schedule. Statistical agencies by definition do not set policy. Their only power and purpose is collecting data & publishing credible, informative stats. Without political independence, they can't do this.

1/Universities need to systematically address the findings in the Epstein files. In my opinion, every university in which current or past faculty, administrators, trustees appear in the files, should establish formal bodies to review and assess. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...

"Tell me you know nothing about the Muppets without telling me you know nothing about the Muppets."

Sharing screenshots of your canceled subscriptions inspires others to Resist and Unsubscribe.

By the way, for those of you not in MN: Homan’s strategy was to withdraw some agents, so it felt like we were in the denouement of the crisis, and then escalate hard against observers. They’re being incredibly aggressive with observers now. National media may not want to check out just yet

Disturbing chart. More than forty years ago, I completed an undergrad degree in modern history and economics. Still think that combination was the greatest education/preparation to understand (and in my case write about) the world.

"I have concerns about Kevin Warsh leading the Federal Reserve. Many have roots in his time at the Fed." stayathomemacro.substack.com/p/kevin-warsh

I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Stay free

📢now forthcoming in ECMA! The Class Gap in Career Progression: Evidence from US Academia Class is rarely a focus of research or DEI in elite US occupations. Evidence suggests it should be: we find a large class gap in at least one occupation - tenure-track academia...🧵

There's a little less than a week until 1 February, when submissions to this year's ESPE conference in Helsinki (11-13 June) are due! More info here: espe2026.org Submit papers here: app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/79627...

Some thoughts: 1. The deadline for nominating a person or group for the Nobel Peace Prize is Feb. 1. 2. History professors are qualified nominators. 3. The people of Minnesota have been awe-inspiringly peaceful in the face of state violence. 4. He would be so mad.

The biggest risk in this moment is something sociologists call “symbolic compliance.” That’s when an institution that is violating civil rights gives the public just enough symbolic victories that accountability efforts lose steam before there has been any meaningful change.

Defenceless under the night Our world in stupor lies; Yet, dotted everywhere, Ironic points of light Flash out wherever the Just Exchange their messages: May I, composed like them Of Eros and of dust, Beleaguered by the same Negation and despair, Show an affirming flame. — W.H. Auden, Sept. 1, 1939

Sky News: Danish PM Mette Freideriksen’s note in the visitors book when she visited UK today

I know I don't have a ton of media followers, but I'll put this out there anyway: if you need someone to comment/offer context on the removal of the slavery exhibit at the President's House site in Philly, get in touch. I just finished an entire book on Americans' fight over Washington and slavery.

Yes, he heard what Trump said.

This is one of the sharpest analyses of international affairs that I've heard from a Canadian leader - or any national leader - in a long time. And I suspect he wrote the main bits himself. paulwells.substack.com/p/the-carney...

Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell: www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG... www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...

I do kinda hope there’s a bunch of like university presidents and CEOs and such seeing Powell’s video and having at least a moment of like “oh, shit, yeah, I guess”

New, from me: The NYT reporter who specializes in profiles of beleaguered right-wingers on campus went to New College...and found out that things were going ok! So let me explain some pretty massive errors of omission: 🧵 donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-nyt-re...

Review: “Ruth Asawa: A Retrospective” at the Museum of Modern Art only scratches the surface of Asawa’s contribution. Artists who need inspiration or who need reassurance that what they do matters should visit this show.

this field biologist does a great job highlighting the insidiousness of AI editing these one-click AI edit buttons are incredibly appealing to many photographers, amateurs and professionals alike, and are framed as innocuous this is worth sharing and educating people about

I hope people understand that if Trump gets his way America will soon be part of the global axis of evil if we aren't already. You see it in the Caribbean, you see it in Ukraine, and you see it with Trump trying to buddy up to Xi. We are a malevolent force.

i think this is the first time i’ve seen the “even though they lost they actually won” headline construction used for democrats

Larry Summers banned from the American Economics Association conferences and journals. Can't referee or be an editor for AEA journals. National Bureau of Economic Research, your turn.

Who’s gonna tell ‘em

Important work. The impact of mass incarceration is under-studied.

To my students: Lean into skills AI amplifies, not ones it bulldozes. Frame good questions, scope problems, interpret messy data, apply judgment, explain clearly. The bot can autocomplete; you bring curiosity, context, and ethics.

1/ Egalitarianism should begin at home. I link to this article by @bencasselman.bsky.social in light of the communications between Larry Summers and Jeffrey Epstein that have just been released. The released emails and the fact of friendship are vile. www.nytimes.com/2021/02/23/b...